Tubert sisters thriving

Bits and pieces from the local sports scene.

Golfer named to elite squad: Former Burroughs High golf standout Emily Tubert has been included on the Spirit International team by captain David Fay, who named the players who will represent the United States in the 2011 tournament, which will be held Nov. 2-5 at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Texas.

Fay, who served as United States Golf Assn. executive director for more than 20 years, has a fine track record for choosing talented players. All four of the golfers named to the 2011 Spirit International USA team have won national titles.

Fay and USA assistant captain, Alli Jarrett, chose Tubert, a sophomore at the University of Arkansas, Austin Ernst, a sophomore at LSU, Kelly Kraft, a senior at SMU, and Nathan Smith of Pittsburgh to represent the United States at the 2011 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship.

"The 2010-2011 season has been an amazing time for amateur golf," Fay said in a prepared statement. "With several amateurs winning professional events, the biggest challenge in the selection process was the number of worthy candidates.

"Alli and I are confident this group of competitors will proudly and deftly defend the gold medal at The 2011 Spirit International."

The 2009 USA team, captioned by former Spirit player and current LPGA sensation Paula Creamer, won the Spirit's top prize. U.S. team members two years ago were Alexis Thompson, Jennifer Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Ben Martin.

Tubert, 19, was the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links champion in 2010. She is a 2011 All-American and All-Southeastern Conference golfer. This spring, she was named SEC freshman of the year. She earned a spot on the 2011 National Collegiate Golf Assn. All-Scholar team.

A three-time American Junior Golf Assn. Rolex junior All-American, Tubert also won a CIF Southern Section championship while at Burroughs.

The 2011 Spirit International features 80 participants from 20 countries representing six continents. Country teams are comprised of national amateur champions and top-ranked players.

The format of play for the competition is four-ball stroke play. The men's and women's four-ball score is combined for the International Team competition. There is also a separate men's and women's team competition.

Volleyball player earns athlete-of-the-month honor: It hasn't taken much time for Burbank High graduate Sarah Tubert to begin enjoying success at Gallaudet University.

The Gallaudet University Athletics Department recently announced the two recipients for the Bison of the Month for September, and both are first-time winners. Football freshman Jaris Alleyne and Tubert, a freshman standout for the women's volleyball team, were selected for their outstanding performances as Bison student-athletes.

Tubert helped her team to a 10-5 record during the month of September. She ranked first on the Bison in assists with 420 as the team's setter. She also sits in the top five in many other categories for the Bison volleyball team. Tubert ranks second in blocks with 40 and has accumulated 111.5 points, 57 kills, and 27 service aces through September 29.

"Sarah brings great passion to the court as she continues to learn new things everyday so she can become a better setter. Her positive attitude and complete effort shows her will to win and stubbornness to not back down from a challenge," said Gallaudet volleyball Coach Lynn Ray Boren in a prepared statement.

This is the first Bison of the Month award for the 2011-12 athletic seasons. Each month the Gallaudet University Athletics Department will recognize two standout student-athletes (one male, one female) from their respective sports. October's Bison of the Month will be named in early November.

Tubert is also a member of the USA National Deaf Women's Volleyball Team. In June, she helped Team USA win a title in the USA Volleyball Open National Championships. At Burbank High, Tubert was an all-league and All-Area star in volleyball and girls' water polo.